Kim's Day : Kim has been a Carer since 2004
I first heard about Careforce from a friend who was working for them and was really enjoying it. As I had young children I was looking for a job that had flexible hours and caring really appealed, as I had always wanted to work in care or healthcare. Before I had my kids I had worked in a bank but I had decided I didn’t want to go back to that. I thought becoming a Carer would be a good way to start and Careforce was offering local work so I could get around on my bike – it keeps me fit too!
When I joined the people at Careforce were very welcoming but at the same time it was highly professional. There were five of us training and it was extremely thorough. The company had introduced CRB checks and we trained while we waited for these to come through, we were not allowed to visit clients until we’d passed both the checks and the training.
At first I was asked to care for people who were fairly able-bodied – they could get around quite well and just needed quite simple things doing, for example if they couldn’t bend or stretch very far, or if their eyesight wasn’t good. I was working one to one with people who l lived within a five mile radius of my home, this made my first weeks in care very easy and I soon gained confidence. I worked shifts to fit in with my partner so we could share childcare duties.
After about six months, when I was more experienced, I became part of a double-up team, this is for service users who need a much greater degree of ‘hands-on care’ and I worked as part of a team covering a wider area.
A typical day, if I am working an early shift, is a 7am start and, as I’m part-time, I’ finish by around 11am. During the morning I might visit five or six people, starting with the early risers! Some visits are time-critical, for example if they need medication at specific times, or if they need to wait for me to help them get up and dressed – we don’t usually need to do much more than help, such as with putting on socks and shoes. Our role is to support them in their independence, it is not usual to do everything for them. Everyone is different and they will decide what help they need and more importantly what help they are happy to accept.
New carers will usually be expected to do quite simple care, such as making a drink or light breakfast, emptying commodes, making the bed – stripping it first if necessary, sometimes we need to prompt people to take their medication or make sure they are wearing a continence pad. If service users need a higher level of care, or if they can’t walk or wash themselves, then they will be looked after by a double-up team of more experienced carers. Before you join a team you will not only have received a lot of training and be an experienced carer but you will also know what is expected and have decided you want to take your care career further.
Initially I was a bit worried that I’d be expected to prepare elaborate meals – I’m not a great cook – but most jobs are just the same as those we do in our homes – often meals are ready prepared and can just be microwaved or I re-heat something a family member has made. You won’t be a skivvy either, we often do some light cleaning and certainly if we found a client in a mess or muddle we wouldn’t walk away but, unless it’s specifically a domestic call, we aren’t expected to clean the house from top to toe. Risk assessments are carried out every 12 months to monitor our clients changing needs, even if they are a Social Services client we carry out our own thorough assessments and flag up any who we think need extra help from the healthcare sector.
Later shifts are usually the reverse of the breakfast shift – we might prepare some supper or make a hot drink, then ensure we leave people ready for bed with everything they need for a comfortable, secure night’s sleep, sometimes we need to help people attach night bags, catheters or incontinence pads. Some clients have four or five visits a day – from getting up to going to bed and everything in between.
I love the variety of people I meet through caring, they come from all walks of life, there’s no such thing as a typical service user. Many people feel isolated from their families and probably the most important thing we give them is time. As I do my work I talk to them and enjoy learning about their lives, we’re not supposed to get too attached to people but you can’t help but form relationships. Some new users find it difficult to accept help at first and it’s really satisfying when they come round to trusting you and obviously looking forward to your visit.
I know caring isn’t for everybody but I’ve never regretted joining Careforce and I really love what I do.